This paper systematically explores how Large Language Models (LLMs) generate explanations of code examples of the type used in intro-to-programming courses. As we show, the nature of code explanations generated by LLMs varies considerably based on the wording of the prompt, the target code examples being explained, the programming language, the…

In the last two decades, computational thinking has gained wide relevance in international educational systems. The inclusion of this new type of thinking poses educational challenges with some underlying research questions that need to be answered to meet these challenges with quality. Thus, this study focuses on analyzing the difficulties that…

The aim of this paper is to provide tools to teachers for monitoring student work and understanding practices in order to help student and possibly adapt exercises in the future. In the context of an online programming learning platform, we propose to study the attempts (i.e., submitted programs) of the students for each exercise by using…

This study explores the novice programmers' intention to use chat generative pretrained transformer (ChatGPT) for programming tasks with emphasis on performance expectancy (PE), risk-reward appraisal (RRA), and decision-making (DM). Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and a sample of 413 novice programmers, the…

Creativity is a vital skill in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related education, fostering innovation and problem-solving. Traditionally, creativity assessments relied on human evaluations, such as the consensual assessment technique (CAT), which are resource-intensive, time-consuming, and often subjective. Recent…

Aim/Purpose: This paper is part of a multi-case study that aims to test whether generative AI makes an effective coding assistant. Particularly, this work evaluates the ability of two AI chatbots (ChatGPT and Bing Chat) to generate concise computer code, considers ethical issues related to generative AI, and offers suggestions for how to improve…

Programming demands a variety of cognitive skills, and mastering these competencies is essential for success in computer science education. The importance of formative feedback is well acknowledged in programming education, and thus, a diverse range of techniques has been proposed to generate and enhance formative feedback for programming…

The project-based learning model via generative artificial intelligence, or PjBL model via Gen-AI, is a research tool that was initiated based on the concept of project-based learning management focusing mainly on self-directed learning, in which learners are able to learn and practice through the projects they are interested in as to their…

This research is part of the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Trainer (AI-VT) project which aims to create a system that can identify the user's skills from a text by means of machine learning. AI-VT is a case-based reasoning learning support system can generate customized exercise lists that are specially adapted to user needs. To attain this…

In order to improve the accessibility and user friendliness of an accurately pretrained stacking ensemble machine learning regressor used to predict sulfate levels (mg/L) in Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), a Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed using Python by combining human input with ChatGPT and deployed in the Jupyter Notebook environment.…

The growing need for automated and personalized feedback in programming education has led to recent interest in leveraging generative AI for feedback generation. However, current approaches tend to rely on prompt engineering techniques in which predefined prompts guide the AI to generate feedback. This can result in rigid and constrained responses…

ChatGPT has received considerable attention in education, particularly in programming education because of its capabilities in automated code generation and program repairing and scoring. However, few empirical studies have investigated the use of ChatGPT to customize a learning system for scaffolding students' computational thinking. Therefore,…

SQL compiler error messages are the primary way users receive feedback when they encounter syntax errors or other issues in their SQL queries. Effective error messages can enhance the user experience by providing clear, informative, and actionable feedback. Despite the age of SQL compilers, it still remains largely unclear what contributes to an…

Regular expressions (REs) are often taught to undergraduate computer science majors in the Formal Languages and Automata (FLA) course; they are widely used to implement different software functionalities such as search mechanisms and data validation in diverse fields. Despite their importance, the difficulty of REs has been asserted many times in…

As students learn how to program, both their programming code and their understanding of it evolves over time. In this work, we present a general data-driven approach, named "Temporal-ASTNN" for modeling student learning progression in open-ended programming domains. Temporal-ASTNN combines a novel neural network model based on abstract…